“You don’t have the local leaders that create 70% of the action on the ground so I am asking you to have the local leaders to be part of COP 25 and if so I promise you, I’ll be back.”

3 December 2018, Katowice, Poland - Delegates at the 24th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change were surprised with an unexpected appearance from Arnold Schwarzenegger during the High Level Plenary in Katowice, Poland.

The former Governor of California, professional bodybuilder and actor was welcomed to the stage during the high level statements presented from global leaders, assuring delegates that regardless of the position of the US Government, the people of the United States were still supportive of taking climate action stating - “The United States is still in the Paris Agreement. And they are doing an extraordinary job there by staying in.”

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Schwarzenegger is currently attending the UNFCCC COP24 in Katowice, Poland and is often seen walking the corridors of the venue. During his brief statement during the High Level Plenary he called for the UNFCCC in include the local leaders and community, “those effected and also carrying out the climate change work”, in the UN Climate Change process. He challenged the room to invite the local community and leaders to be part of the next Conference of the Parties with tables in the plenaries and not remain limited to side events along the sidelines of the COP.

“I believe very strongly there is no team, no sports team that can win if not all the strong players are on the team and right now you don’t have all the strong players in the team. You don’t have all of the strong players in the team here,” said Schwarzenegger.

“You don’t have the local leaders that create 70% of the action on the ground so I am asking you to have the local leaders to be part of COP 25 and if so I promise you, I’ll be back.”

The 24th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP24) is held in Katowice, Poland from 2 to 14 December, 2018.